Circuit-closer.



R. A. WASHBURN.

cmcun CLOSER.

PR lC ION F [D V- 22, 9 1,199,843. A L H H No 5 Patented Oct. 3,1916.-

2 SHEETS-SHEET fl E21 14 1O Svweutoz wdmeowo g Z4772 R. A. WASHBURN.

CIRCUIT CLOSER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22. 1915.

Patented Oct. 3, 1916.

2 SHEETS SHEET 2 {a x M nfilili a w r 1 w r i 3 2/ O O 0 w a a M mm 2 J 3 2 N 5 w 1 M m 7% LEFT Wane/sow 46% ROY A. WASHBURN, 0F MASON CITY, IOWA.

GFFICE.

I CIRCUITCLOSER.

Application filed Noveinber 22, 1915.

lle it .known that. 1, R01 A. \VAsiuiUaN, a citizen of the United St-ates,*residing at Mas n City, in the county of C'crro Gordo and Stale of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Circuittlosersz and I do declare the following to e a full. clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it: appertains to make and use the same.

My invention is an improved circuit. closer for the electrical signaling systems of automobiles and other typeset vehicles, and has for its object to provide. a simple arrangement of parts whereby both visual and audible warningmay be given-when stopping the machine or when turning to. the right or left. provision being also made whereby the audible signal may be used independently of the visual signals.

\\'itl this general object in \'ie\\', the in ention conxists o'l certain novel features of construction and of unique com'lnnations of parts to be hereinafter fully described and claimed, the descriptive matter being supplcmented by the accompauyin drawings which constitute a part of this application and in which:

Figure l is a perspective \iew of an automobile equipped with a signaling S itl\l operated by the iinprored circuit closer, Fifi. 2 is a rear. elevation of the signal light ca. in; ol' the automobile; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal ectiou thereof talieu on the plane indicated y the line t-ti of Fig'. izl' ifi. l is a top plan \'lt\\' of the switch: Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional \'iewthereof as seen on the plane of the line 5 of Fig. l. and Fig. l is a diagram of the ay tem with the in'iprored circuit closer applied.

' ln specifically describing the intention shown in the drawings a ove bri'elly described. hiinilarrel rrence charactera will be laced on ('(Hl'tSlKHHlliljJ parts throughout the e\'eral views of such drawings, and ref erence will e herein made to the numerou elements by their respective itttlit'tfi. To llilfi end. the numeral 1 refers to an automo ile ol' coinuion CUHSll'iHllHll hating mount- -d uli its rear end an appropriate easing L with a slot 3 in its side. while its rear end i.\ eipiipped with a num er oi translucent lenses or the like -l of appropriate colors. an additional and preferably red lens 5 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. i916. Serial No. 62,775.

casing. The three lenses -l are formed with the letters 5, L, and 1B,, such letters being either totally or partiallytransparent as desired, and representing respectively the words St-op or .Slowf Left, and

Right. Thus itwill be seen that if proper The lights above mentionedare represented in the drawings by the numerals (3, being preterably housed 111 appropriate reflectors 7 carried within the casing 2, while an additional lamp 8 is positioned contiguous to the red lens and is adapted to be constantly illuminated to serve as thetail light of the machine. Since the slot 3 .in 'tlre casing is so 'tllSPO50tl with respect .to the; lamp S asto allow rays from the latter to be projected through the former, the license number,-

9 of the machine may be illuminated from said lamp. The dash of the automobile 1 is equipped with an electric lamp 10 adapted to; be"

illuminated when any one of the lamps 6 is operated, thus allowing theop era't'or of the machine to readily ascertain whether or not the circuits of said lamps are completed, and in addition to said lamp 10, an audible electric signal 11 is mounted adjacent said dash or at another appropriate point. The signal It is represented in the present embodiment of the invention in the. form of an electric horn. but. obviously it might well be a bell it the system is to .be applied to electric autoniobilest,

The current -for operating the numerous lights andthe signal ll is taken from an ap ropriate battery 12 carried at any preferred point on the machine and is properly directed through wiring yet to be. described by a switch l3 which mounted on the steering wheel of the machine or at another oint readily accessible to the driver.

lhe witch 13 is carried within an appropriate caain; ll ol insulating or other Stilta le material and consists of an imperforate bottom contact. plate 15, an in rmediate conta t plate It; slit transversfi; at intervals and thus divided into a plurality of contact lingers 17. and a trio of additional fin- IVY lStliSpoRed aboyethree. of the fingers ii". The remaining finger 17 is equipped with an m arating knob 19, while the fingers 18 are provided with similar knobs 20, all of the knobs being passed through openings in thZ top of'the casing 14. any pre' ferre: meanssuch as that designatedat 21 in drawings-theplates and 16 are insu 'ated from each other in spaced relation,

.and by the insulation 22, the fingers 18 are in turn insulated from'the plate 16, all of this being essential for 3 reasons to. become obvious as the description proceeds.

The lower contactvplate 15" is electrically connected. with one terminal of the battery 12 by, a wire or thelike 23, one terminal of the audible signal 11 connected by a-wire 24 with the plate 16, and othewwires 25 lead from. the individual fingers -18to one terminal ottlie three lamps 6. The other terminalsoffthese'larhps are connected by "a wire 26, with one terminal of the lamp 10, while leading from the other terminal of the latter to the remaining terminal of the batte -ry '12,.is a wire 27. 'The last named terminal of the battery is connected electrically withithe iemaii'iing'terminal of the signal 11 by a wvire 28 'lni'iddition to'the' wiring above described,

I "i wires 29 a'nd 30 lead from the opposite ter minals of thebattery to such terminals {)ftli taillight S, a switch 31 being located v i'noneoffs'a'id wires, Wherebythe tail light Tnay be thrown out of Useiduring the day.

\Vith all. partsof'the device constructed .and connectedas' above described, by pressingupon the knob 19, the.operator ,will

bring one finger 17 in contact with the plate 15,-whereupon the current will travel from the battery through'tlie'wire23 and plate 15, and' through the finger 17 and wire 24 -t'o'itl'ie audible signal 11, from whichit will return to the battcrythrough the wire 2-8, thereby sounding said signal. It is to be observed that this takes place without illuminating'ai'iy of the lights (3. if, however, the operator intends turning, say tothe left, he will press orient the buttons 20, such button being provided with any prefcrrcd type of indicating means not shown.

The result of this is that one ofthe fingers 18 contacts with the finger 17 beneath it and fol-res the. latter against the plate 15. The current within the latter, fed thereto by the wire 25 will. now flow through the active finger IT and plate 16 and will pass from the latter through tlic signal 11 as above do meat in said light 6 should be broken, or if said lamp should have arred loose from its socket, itis obvious that the lamp 10 will not operate. Thus, the operator may readilyascertain at all times whether or not the i warning lights are operating;

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be obvious that the object of the invention liasbeen' attainetlrand that further description or exposition istherefore unnecessai'iy,

In the drawings, certain specific arrangementof parts have beensh'ou'n for the attainment of 1nobably the'best results, and in the precedingsuch arrangements have been described but obviously 1 numerous minor changes may be; resorted to within the spirit of the invention as claimed,

I claim:

1. A circuit closer of the class described v comprising a baseplatc of conducting material, aplurality of resilient'contzrct lingers spaced from one face'ot's'aid plate and have ing operating buttons 'for forcing them to;

ward said plate said 'fingers l'ieing' insulated from each other and from the base plate,v and a resilient plate interposed between said fingers and the base plateand spaced there} from, said resilient plate being insulated from said base plate and fingers and being.-

comprising a base plate of conducting ma terial, a plurality of resilient contactfingers'.

spaced from one face of: said plate and having operating buttons'for forcing them toward said plate, said fingers being insulated from each other and from the base plate, and a resilient plate interposed lictweensaid fingers and the base plate and spaced therefrom, said resilient plate bcing insulated from said base plate and fingers and being slotted ii'nvardly from one edge'to form at additional series of resilient contact finger: certain of whirh are adapted to be torccr against the hascplatc by movement of tlr first named fingers, one of the fingers of S111 additional series being independent of -sa'ifirst named fingers and having an individu: operating button for forcing it against tl base plate.

in testimony whereof I have hereunto? my hand in presence of two subscrib ng wi IXQHSZCS.

ROY WASHBURN.

Witnesses M. .l. (one-neon, A; FARRELL. 

